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MARCH OF DIMES
FIGHT
INFANTILE
PARALYSIS
JANUARY 2-31
MARCH OF DIMES
FIGHT
INFANTILE
paralysis
JANUARY 2-31
VOL. 35—NO. 9
EIGHTEEN PAGES
v-,'
4 Soldiers
Draw Lon^
Jail Terms
One Senlenced For
Aberdeen Break-In#
Three For Robbery
Four young soldiers Of the 82nd
Airborne Division, Fort Bragg,
laced trial on robbery charges
Monday as the criminal term of
Moore superior court opened, with
Judge Frank M. Armstrong of
Troy presiding.
Alvin R. Farrington, 23-year-old
New Jersey native, drew a sen
tence of 12 to 36 months on the
roads, to be followed by two to
five years in Central Prison, Ra
leigh, the prison sentence sus
pended for five years on good be
havior, with no violation of any
laws.
The tall slender youth, dark
eyed and dark-haired, pleading
guilty to both charges, took the
stand to relate in a low voice the
details of his robbery of the
Moore Motor Co. at Aberdeen,
, when, shortly before Christmas,
he broke in through a window
and took a quantity of automobile
parts. The indictment set their
value at $1,091 and M. B. Pleas
ants of the company on the stand
said they were worth “more than
$700.”
Niunerous letters from persons
in Farrington’s; home tovn attest
ing his good character vere read
into the record by his ccunsel, H.
F. Seawell, and his motier wept
as she said he had alwiys been
“a good boy” and helped at home.
He gave as reasons for toe theft
the need of parts for his uar, and
some Christmas funds.
Farrington took the stand only
after Judge Armstrong hinted
strongly thait he never supended
a sentence nor set a probitionary
one unless a defendant did so.
Answering all questions yith ap
parent candor, Farrington never
theless shied away frcn the
judge’s probing at several points,
particulcirly in reference to pos
sible accomplices. He incited he
did the job alone.
Vass Hold-Up
The caise was broken trough
cooperation of the Moore bounty
sheriff’s department, the SI and
the Army’s CID, the sam com
bination which brought imilar
success in the case against James
Geery, Raymond J. Jones nd A1
J. Jackson, charged with irmed
robbery and larceny. Thethree,
also from the Airborne, 19 nd 20
years old, pled guilty to rbbing
Charles F. Foster, a Vass gucery
store proprietor, of aboui $750
Saturday evening, Novemhr 28.
Foster had told his story f the
hold-up, and Sgt. J. J. KuTjs of
the CID described minute? the
processes of his departmet in
tracing down the triO' and rcur-
ing their confessions.
The three youths were sen
tenced to spend not less thaifive
nor more than 20 years in Ciitral
Prison, Raleigh.
Equally Guilty
Though Defense Counsel ler
bert F. Seawell urged consi«;ra'
tion for Jones, driver of the^et
(Continued tO' Page 8)'
SOUTHERN PINES. NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY. JANUARY 22, 1954
EIGHTEEN PAGES
PRICE—TEN CENTS
t !
nil
Stevenson Plans To Visit Sandhills
For lO-Day Vacation Late In March
People May
Have Chance
To Meet Him
MR. AND MRS. F. D. (“DOOLEY”) ADAMS,
shown above, are among the Moore County
Hounds’ most faithful followers. Here they are
shown jumping an Aiken fence out on the Num
ber 2 firelane near Carroll’s Branch, in a recent
hunt. The w|iite horse is “Refugio,” winner of
many races, who ran seventh in last year’s
Grand National at Aintree. Mrs. Adams is rid
ing “Mama.” Last year, for the fifth consecu
tive time, Mr. Adams was named leading hunt-
race rider of the country. The Adams live in
the lob cabin on the Fred McBride property on
Young’s Road. (Photo by Emerson Humphrey)
Young Driver Charged With Murder
Moore Family Wiped Out In Wreck
Parents# 2 Children
Die; Collision Takes
Eight Lives In All
Death of eight-year-old Dennis
Marion at Lee County Hospital,
Sanford, Wednesday evening,
brings to eight the fatality toll of
the worst automobile accident in
the history of this area—a two-car
collision Saturday night that com
pletely wiped out the admired and
beloved Robert W. Marion family
of Cameron, Route 1, who lived
between Vass and Cameron in
Moore Coimty.
The father, 28, his wife, Mrs.
Irene Hendricks Marion, 28, and
their daughter, Sandra, 5, all were
instantly killed at 10:35 p.m. Sat-
day on No. 1 highway about 15
miles north of Southern Pines in
a head-on crash with a car driven
by Herman Blakely, 22, of Jones
boro Heights, Sanford.
Then their son, Dennis, the only
surviving child, succumbed Wed
nesday of his accident injuries.
Two sisters of Mrs. Marion, rid
ing with the family, also were
killed—Clara Hendricks, 5 years
■X
Mrs, Kennedy To
Head Girl Scout
Council 2 Years
Mrs. Audrey Kennedy was re
elected president of the Central
Carolina Girl Scout Council dur- tceuns^ wux juumc^ bu
ing the annual meeting of adult Aberdeen tonight (Friday) for
1 in ■ +1^ #“N*fv, 11 ,fT 1 ■rv^ ■v^#-vv<4 o O #^
old died instantly. Marie An-'highway and struck the Marion
nette Hendricks, 10, died at Lee
County Hospital Sunday morning.
Two young people riding with
Blakely met death in the crash—
Juanita Covington, 19, was killed
instantly, and BiUy Ray Goodman,
19, who is a cousin of Mrs. Ma
rion, died Sunday morning.
Charged With Murder
Blakely, gravely injured, with
fractured skiill, arm and leg, re
mains at Lee County Hospital—
the oply survivor. He has been
charged With murder and drunken
driving, following an investigation
by the State Highway Patrol, in
Which Col. James R. Smith, patrOl
commander from Raleigh, person
ally took charge.
Col. Smith said that the Blakely
car, which was headed north,
went over on the left side of the
POLIO CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Virginia Saunders hak
been appointed West South
ern Pines fund-raising chair
man for the 1953 March of
Dimes, it was announced this
week by H. Clifton Blue of
Aberdeen, county drive chair
man. All West Southern Pines
residents who have not con
tributed to the March of
Dimes are urged to turn in
their donations to her.
car. The latter, he said, was al
most off the highway.
The warrant charges murder,
but it will be up to the court to
determine what degree of crime,
if any, wds involved. Col. Smith
said.
Highway Patrolmen J. T. Brown
and C. M. Cummings began an in
vestigation of the accident imme
diately. Brown said bodies were
scattered on both sides of the
highway after the crash, but that
it was necessary to climb through
the trunk of the Marion car to get
three of the children from the
back seat.
Mass Funeral Held
A mass funeral for Mr. and Mrs.
Marion and Sandra and Mrs. Ma
rion’s two sisters was held Mon
day afternoon at the Cameron
Baptist Church, with the Rev. L.
M. Dixon and the Rev. W. D. Hud
son officiating. All were buried
in Cameron Cemetery.
Funeral for Miss Covington was
held Monday afternoon at the
Miller Funeral Home, Sanford,
with interment in Flat Springs
Cemetery.
Rites for the Goodman youth
were conducted by Rev. Mr. Dixon
later Monday afternoon at the
Cameron Presbyterian Church.
Goodman was also buried in Cam-
(Continued on Page 4)
Adlai E. Stevenson is scheduled
to spend about 10 days in the
Sandhills in late March.
The 1952 Democratic Presiden
tial candidate and former gover
nor of Illinois will stay at Paint
Hill Farm, the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Ernest L. Ives, off the Beth-
esda Road, between Southern
Pines and Aberdeen.
Tentative plans for Stevenson’s
visit were outlined this week by
Mrs. Ives, his sister.
He will be here to golf and re
lax and will deliver an address at
Charlotte—announced this week—
—during his stay in the Sandhills,
going from here to Charlotte lor
the occasion.
A chance for the people of
Moore County to meet Stevenson
wiU probably be accorded at an
informal reception in Carthage,
the county seat.
No date has been set for this
event which, said Mrs.. Ives, will
be “an occasion for hand-shaking
but not speech-making.” She»said
that some time ago she suggested
such a gathering to her brother,
to be held should he visit the
Sandhills, and he said he would
be pleased to take part.
Mrs. Ives mentioned these
plans as tentative, reflecting only
her previous conversations with
Stevenson.
It is expected that further ar
rangements and official hospital
ity will be taken over by the
Moore County Democratic Execu-
Concert Delights Audieiice'
The Sandhills saw the climax
of a success story last week when
Janet Rosser Spicer appeared in
Weaver Auditorium as solo artist
in the Sandhills Music Associa
tion’s third concert of the season.
Mrs. Spicer, who is the daugh
ter of Dr. and Mrs. R. G. Rosser
of Vass, and has been studying
violin since early girlhood, pre
sented a program that covered a
wide range of musical composi
tion, demonstrating to perfection
the artist’s outstanding talent as
a performer and thorough musi
cianship.
Adding to the pleasure of the
evening was the distinguished
showed him to be a pianist of un
usual skill and great understand
ing.
Mrs. Spicer’s playing delighted
an audience that included many
from neighboring towns, in par
ticular her father and mother,
husband and little five-year-old
son, also Alfred Yeomans, a pres
ident of the first music associa
tion formed here, who had play
ed with Mrs. Spicer when she was
a little girl. Dr and Mrs. Rosser
received many congratulations on
their daughter’s playing and at
tractive stage presence.
Mrs. Spicer, who received much
of her musical education at the
playing of Mrs. Spicer’s accom- Philadelphia 'Conservatory of
panist, Robert Smith, whose solo Music, is now teaching violin at
number, a Cesar Franck sonata, I that institution.
Industry Executives Voice Guarded
Optimism About Upswing In Activity
Nathaniel Burt’s
Novel Praised By
Literary Critics
Reviews and comments prais
ing “Scotland’s Burning,” a first
novel by Nathaniel Burt of
Princeton, N. J., a former South
ern Pines resident, have been re
ceived by The Pilot.
Dealing with a 14-year-old boy’s
irivate school.
a microcosm
experiences in a pr
iviuuie \.^uuiit.y i.#t^iiiocrai,ic i!jxecu- novel was called »
tive Committee which is headed great world rendered with
by Leland' McKeithen of Pine- restraint and artLstrv” in a fmnt.
hurst.
Stevenson has visited Paint Hill
Farm frequently in the past years,
including his years of service as
governor of Illinois, but has not
been here since the 1952 cam
paign.
State Democratic Chairman Ev
erett B. Jordan said this week the
Charlotte speech would probably
be between March 27 and April 3
—most likely April 2.
The major political address will
be sponsored by the State Demo
cratic Executive Committee and
the Young Democratic Clubs of
North Carolina.
State Democratic leaders, in
cluding YDC officers, have long
'been trying to get Stevenson to
make a speech in North Carolina.
The tentative arrangement for
the Charlotte address followed a
conference last week between
Jordan and Steve Mitchell, chair-
(Continued on Page 4)
High School Teams To Play Aberdeen Tonight
di^ntoVi£ir»rx TTInV* V»QC*_^
Southern Pines High School bas--|
ketball teams will journey to
Donor Response
For Blood Giving
Is ‘Encouraging’
Recruiting of blood donors jr
next Wednesday’s visit of a Id
Cross Bloodmobile collection lit
at the Southern Pines Couny
Club has been encouraging, M.
Audrey Kennedy, executive sec!-
tary of the Moore County Ri
Cross Chapter, said this wet.
But more donors are needed if te
collection’s 250-pint goal is to ;
reached.
Donors may visit the bloodm
bile between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.n
but are asked to make an appoin
ment if possible. June Blue is
leaders in the council held at the
Wilrik Hotel in Sanford Monday
evening.
Mrs. William' P. Davis IV of
• Southern Pines was elected chair
man of the nominating committee
and James G. Gilbert of Pinehurst
was chosen treasurer. Elected
president was Mrs. Grady John
son of Lillington. All officers wiU
serve two-year terms.
Attending from Southern Pines,
in addition to Mrs. Kennedy and
Mrs. Davis, were Mrs. Ray Mc
Mullen, Mrs. Garland Pierce, Mrs.
Donald P. Wellman, Mrs. Mildred
Merrill, Mrs. Louis Scheipers, Sr.,
Mrs. W. D. Campbell, Mr. and
Mrs. Lloyd Clark and A. A. Hew
lett
Mrs. Kennedy opened the meet
ing with a welcome and recogni
tion of leaders and community
chairmen from the Moore, Lee,
Chatham and Harnett area that
comprises the council. The meet
ing had the theme, “Looking
Ahead In Central Carolina.” Miss
Cathryn Creasman, executive di
rector of the council whose head
, .. - 1
charge of recruiting donor solici iidu-
tors and donors, while John Buct quarters are at Sanford, installed
holz, permanent blood chairma officers,
for the chapter, has overall charg( Accomplishments of the coimcil
of the collection. during 1953 include enrollment Of
Buchholz this week pointed oui714 girls, starting eight new
continued need for blood, al-troops, adding 285 new members,
though the Korean hostilities have567 hours of training for 73 adults
ended. Blood is now in demandand 156 girls attending some camp
to build a national plasma reserveorogram. Also, it was reported,
and also for production of gammaSirl Scouts studied first aid and
globuhn wMch is used in the fightfome nursing and “had fun while
against polio. Earning to be better citizens.”
their traditionally important and
exciting contests with the Red
Devils and Devilettes.
Aberdeen and Southern Pines
boys have lost only once in Moore
County play this season. The Dev
ilettes, 1953 State champions and
undefeated this season, will be
defending their unblemished rec
ord against the local girls who
have won four and lost three.
The girls’ game is set for 7:30,
to be followed by the boys’ con
test. '
Tuesday night of next week, the
local boys and girls go to San
ford to tackle strong teams in
non-conference clashes. Friday
night of next week, the Blue
Knights and girls will play here,
facing West End.
‘Flying High’
Well Received
A large and appreciative audi
ence saw the first performance of
“Flying High”, a musical comedy
sponsored by the Junior Woman’s
Club, at Weaver Auditorium Wed
nesday night. Second and last per
formance of the lively show fea
turing local talent was schedule^
for Thursday night at 8 o’cloclc
The show featured songs and
dances by adults, high school stu
dents and a large group of chil
dren. The first night audiences
voiced high praise for the produc
tion.
restraint and artistry” in a front
page review by Gene Baro in the
New York Herald Tribune Book
Review on Sunday.
“This is an excellent book, told
in a glowing and understanding
retrospect,” wrote Mr. Baro. “Mr.
Burt writes with mature author
ity, creating characterizations and
situations that are vividly be
lievable.”
Writing in the Herald Tribune
on the book’s publication day last
Thursday, Lewis Gannett called
“Scotland’s Burning” “a sensitive
and honest adult story of a boy’s
dilemmas.”
John Brooks in the New York
Times Book Review on Sunday
noted that “. . . throughout, Mr.
Burt shows a sure skill in bring
ing back to almost any former in
mate the sights, sounds, smells
and feelings, characteristic of life
around those playing fields where
so many Anglo-Saxon battles are
said to have been won.”
'A Masterpiece'
Most enthusiastic of all com
ments are those of Samuel Shella-
barger, historical novelist, receiv
ed from a private source:
“In every respect the book is
most distinguished; in its clear,
sensitive style; in the construe
tion of the story which holds the
reader’s interest throughout; in
(Continued, on Page 4)
FAST ACTION—Jimmy Townshend of the Southern Pines
High School Blue Knights leaves the floor to score in a recent
game with Robbins here which the local boys won 65-51. Other
Southern Pines players coming up are Johnny Watkins (No. 26)
and Tommy Ruggles. On the floor, but not visible in the photo,
were David Page and Bobby Cline. Robbins girls, playing the
same night, defeated Southern Pines 66-52. Townshend, with 17
points, and Page, with 15, led the Blue Knights’ scoring in the
boys’ contest. (Photo by Emerson Humphrey)
C. Of C. Installs
Board, Re-Elects
Mrs. Nicholson
I
Eight new directors^ were wel
comed on the Chamber of Com
merce board Tuesday night, to
serve two-year terms. With seven
holdover directors, this brings the
board up to its full strength of 15.
In the election following instal-
.lation, Mrs. Valerie Nicholson,
who served as president pro tern
during the year just past, was
elected president. Oi‘'.j?rs elected
were: W. Ward Hill,' ^rst vice-
president; Frank E. C .aT £’e, sec
ond vice-president; Mrs.'."; .i Ed-
son, secretary, and Robert E.
Strouse, treasurer.
Mrs. Nicholson said she will ap
point committee chairmen within
the next few days, and a special
meeting will then be called to
plan the 1954 program of work.
First and biggest job, the direc
tors agreed, was that of member
ship, since all other projects to be
undertaken are dependent on the
size and scope of the membership.
A goal of at least 150 members
will be set, to provide the Cham
ber with a workable budget and
the chance at some major accom-
Hopes Expressed
For Improvement
At Robbins# Bishop
Guarded optimism about an up
swing of business at two Sandhills
industrial plants which have re
cently experienced recessions was
expressed this week by executives
of the firms.
W. P, Saunders, president of
Robbins Mills, Inc., said at his
Aberdeen office that officials of
the textile conapany are hoping
that business, especially hard hit
at the Aberdeen Division of Rob
bins Mills (N. C.), Inc., will pick
up. He called the current reces
sion, which has resulted in lay
off of employees and closing
down of some departments at the
Aberdeen mill, a seasonal change
similar to former seasonal fluctu
ations which have been experi
enced by the firm’s plants in this
area.
At the Bishop and Company
plant, manufacturing hypodermic
needles, on the Carthage highway
out of Southern Pines, J. Graves
Vann, manager, says that busi
ness is “admittedly slow” but that
there had been some improvement
in the last week or two.
'Within the next six weeks, he
said, he anticipates an increase
of up to double the production of
the plant now. The plant has not
used a night shift since early in
December, but its capacity has in
creased to a point that it can now
put out the production in one
shift it formerly could in two
shifts, Mr. Vann said. The plant
is now employing about one-
third the peak number of work
ers employed since it opened.
The Robbins plant at Aberdeen
has been hit more heavily by the
drop in textile orders than the
plants at Robbins, Red Springs
and Raeford, although the Rae-
ford plant has felt its effects, Mr.
Saunders said. Three shifts are
still running at Aberdeen, but not
all departments of the mill are
operating, he said.
The situation, Mr. Saunders be
lieves, is “not as bad as it sounds.”
Extra Day Set
For Moore Court
With a heavy backlog of cases
again accumulating in Moore re
corders court. Judge J. Vance
Rowe announced Saturday that
an extra day of court will be held
next week. 'The special term will
be held ’Tuesday, following the
regular term Monday. This was
done with agreement of Solicitor
W. Lamont Brown, who held in
his hands a sheaf of envelopes—
each representing a case await
ing trial.
Judge Rowe called the patrol
men into court to inform them
he was scheduling old cases for
Monday, new ones Tuesday, and
asked them to notify their arrest
ees accordingly.
p'lishments during the year.
The treasurer’s report, read by
Miss Alice Baxter for retiring
treasiu-er Ed Smail, showed all
bills paid and $146 in the bank to
start the new fiscal year.
Bill Sharpe of Raleigh, editor
and publisher of ‘"The State,” was
a guest for the evening.